Stemming machine



Dec. 1, 1942. D. w. BRASHEAR STEMMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l lll f Dec. 1, 1942. D. w. BRASHEAR STEMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 011 fl/adiczzf ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1942.

D. w. BRASHEAR STEMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 1, 1942. D. w. BRASHEAR 2,303,908

- STEMMING MACHINE ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1942 STEMMING MACHINE Douglas W. Brashear, Richmond, Va., assignor to The American Tobacco Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 18, 1941, Serial No. 415,555

Claims.

This invention relates to tobacco stemming machines, and more particularly to a tobacco stemming machine that is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

One type of stemming machine used in the tobacco industry comprises a set of cables and a set of carded belts travelling at an angle to each other. The cables engage the butt end of the stem of the tobacco leaf as it is fed into the machine and the carded belts engage the leaf. As the cables and belts diverge from each other the stem is pulled from the leaf, the portions of the tobacco leaf being retained by the carding pins. This type of machine is open to several objections. One objection to this type of machine is that it is large consisting of heavy parts and is expensive to operate and maintain in working condition. A second objection to this type of machine is that some of the tobacco adjacent the butt end of the stem must first be removed by a beating operation to permit the stem to be grasped by the cables and the tobacco so removed is in granulated form and is therefore less valuable than tobacco removed in large pieces.

It has also been proposed to provide a tobacco stemming machine employing a pair of carded belts or chains in which the tobacco leaves are arranged transversely with the butt end of the stem projecting at one side and to provide a pair of rolls arranged at one side of the carded belts with their axis parallel to the path of the carded belts. These rolls are revolved away from the belt and when the stem is received in the bite between the two rolls, the stem is withdrawn. The tobacco of the leaf is held by the carded belts and carried to the end of the belts. In such devices the rolls are slightly tapered at the inlet end to insure delivery of the butt end of the leaf between the pair of rolls and their surfaces are roughened to cause the stem of the leaf to be fed through the rolls as they rotate. In devices of this sort heretofore proposed, the rollers have been supported in bearings at only one end to permit them to give if a thick piece of tobacco stalk or other foreign matter is carried between the rolls with the leaf or stem. .Such devices have not been entirely satisfactory for stemming tobacco.

The apparatus herein described and claimed is a material improvement over stemming machines of the character above described. In the present invention I employ a pair of carded belts or chains to which the leaves are ted with the axis of the leaf transversely of the path a portion of the length of the rollers.

of travel and with the butt end of the leaf projecting at one side. At the side of the machine when the butt end of the leaf projects, I provide two sets of rollers rotating at a higher speed than the speed of travel of the carded belts and adapted to receive the butt end of the stem and withdraw the stem as the tobacco of the leaf is held by the carding pins. The

rollers forming a part of the present machine are supported in suitable bearings at each end and each set of rollers'is tapered throughout I further provide rollers having spiral grooves which are adapted to receive the stems and also provide one of the rollers with suitable guides to-maintain the stem, and thus the tobacco leaf, in a position substantially transverse of the line of travel of the carded belts. The surfaces of the rolls adjacent the ends consist of rubberized fabric or similar material which is capable of yielding slightly if a portion of the stem which passes between these surfaces is thicker than is generally encountered in the normal operation of the machine.

I have found that a machine built as above described is capable of efficient removal of to bacco stems from the leaves whereas the simpler machines heretofore proposed have not given efficient operation. It is an improvement overthe more complicated machines in that itis of such a, simple character and has few operating parts to get out of order.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the larger pair of stripping rolls, parts being shown in section;

' Fig. 4 is a detailed, elevational view of the discharge end of the belts showing the guiding means for removing the leaves from the pins;

Fig. 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of one of the carded belts; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevation of portions At the opposite end of the feed table (not shown) the belts pass over similar rolls mounted on a suitable shaft and driven from any suitable source of power.

The shaft 8 carries a pair of sprockets 9 over which the lower carded belt passes and a similar shaft I is mounted above. the shaft 8 and provided with similar sprockets for the upper carded belt. At the opposite end of the machine the carded belts pass over sprockets mounted upon shafts 2 and I3, respectively.

The detailed construction of the carded belt is shown in Figs. 5 to '1. As shown it comprises a plurality of channel-shaped plates H. A pair of pins I5 is secured to each side of each of the plates l4. One of these pins l5 cooperates with a similar pin connected to the next adjacent plate to receive a link. As shown the links consist of side plates I6 having openings for the passage of the pins I5. and spacing collars or sleeves I! which surround the pins and are free to rotate thereon. Externally of the links the two pins carried by each of the plates H are connected by a plurality of plates l8 which give strength and rigidity to the assembled construction. The belt proper is mounted in the channel formed by the series of plates I4 and consists of a base I! formed of a plurality of laminations of rubberized fabric or similar .ma-

terial. The belt may be secured to the chain in any suitable manner. As shown, the plates l4 may be provided with openings 2|! and rivets 28 pass through these openings and through the fabric base to secure it in position. The pins 2| which perform the carding operation are in the form of staples which pass through the belt I9. They are preferably arranged in double over-lapping rows as shown in Fig. 5 which provides four individual pin members in each row.

The pins extend outwardly from the face of the belt as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 and when in operative position the pins of each belt are practically, but not quite, touching the pins of the other belt. As shown, they are inclined slightly rearwardly on the operative flight of the belt (see Fig. 'I). The pins may be formed of any suitable grade of steel having sufficient stiifness and resiliency and their outer ends are preferably case hardened.

On the operative flight, the belts travel in suitable guide-ways or tracks to maintain the carding pins in proper operative relationship with each other. As shown in Fig. 5, each track comprises a base member 22 having hardened steel side plates 23 which are engaged by the outer plates l8 of the chain. The guide-ways also have hardened steel inserts 24 which are engaged by the collars l1. These guide-ways are suitably supported on the frame of the machine and the upper one is adjustable. so that 'any wear on the pins 2| can be taken up. As

' motor supported on a table or platform 3| at the outlet end of the machine and above the belts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The motor shaft 33 is connected to a reduction gearing 34 which drives shaft 35. Shaft 35 is provided with agsoaaos a pair of sprockets II and 31. One of these sprockets receives a chain 38 which passes over a sprocket 39 on the shaft II of the upper belt.

The other sprocket receives a chain 44 passing over a sprocket 4| on the lower belt. The belts are driven at the same speed to convey the tobacco leaves through the machine as indicated in Fig. 2. At the outlet end of the belts I provide a pair of curved plates 45 forming guides to deliver the stemmed leaves to a discharge conveyor 46. As shown the inner ends of the passes over a sprocket 5| on the shaft l2 to drive the discharge conveyor 48.

Shafts l2 and ,I3 are vertically adjustable toward and away from each other to maintain the pins 2| in proper operative relationship and are also adjustable longitudinally of the machine to take up any slack that may occur in the chains. The bearings of each shaft are carried by plates movable vertically between flanges 6| carried by plates 62 arranged adjacent the plates 60. The plates 60 are provided with lugs 63 having threaded openings and the plates 62 are provided with similar lugs 84 having threaded openings. Bolts 65. pass through these openings and by turningthe bolts the plates 60 may be adjusted vertically in the flanges 4|. Suitable lock nuts 68 may be provided to retain the plates in an adjusted position.

Likewise the plates 62 are arranged in horizontal flanges 69 carried by the frame 01. the machine vtor permit longitudinal movement of them. Plates 62 are adapted to be moved in the flanges 69 by means of bolts 10. These bolts pass through threaded lugs or ears II on the frame of the machine and engage one of the flanges 6|. The vertical adjusting means described in connection with the shafts i2 and I3 is also employed on the shafts 8 and I0.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I provide two pairs of coacting rollers on the. side of the machine adjacent the carded belts. These rollers are adapted to engage the stem of the tobacco leaf and pull it outwardly to separate it from the leaf, the tobacco of the leaf being held meanwhile by the pins 2|. rolls rotate in a clockwise direction viewed'from the inlet end of the machine, and the lower rolls revolve in a counter-clockwise direction. The first pair of rolls I5 are larger than the second pair of rolls I8 and perform most of the stripping operation. The second pair of rolls are for the purpose of extracting any stems that maypass the first set of rolls or extracting the remainder of a stem if a stem breaks when it is being fed through the first set of rolls. As shown (see Fig. 3) the rolls 15 comprise rear portions 11 which are cylindrical and which are mounted so as to be practically touching each other. The bodies of the rolls are formed of hardened steel and are reduced in cross section adjacent their rear ends as indicated at 18. The wearing surfaces of. the

For this purpose the upper which are received on the threaded ends of the reduced portions 10. Wear on the discs may thus be taken up by tightening the nuts 00, and the discs I9 may be replaced when desired. Beyond the discs 10 the rolls are provided with spiral grooves 02, the groove of the upper roll being of the opposite pitch from the groove of the lower roll as shown and the, two cooperating to feed the stem outwardly. Beyond the cylindrical portion 83, the roll tapers toward its end as indicated at 8|. The extreme end portion 85 is arranged at a greater taper than the portion 84 to provide a space 85 between the rolls at their inlet ends for the reception of the stem of the leaf. One of the rolls, preferably the upper roll, is provided with several series of pins 0'! which serve to guide the stem transversely as the rolls strip it from the leaf and remove it.

The rolls I6 are generally similar in construction to the rolls 15. They are tapered at their inlet ends as indicated at 90 and the tapered portions of the rolls are provided with spiral grooves 0| of opposite pitch. The greater portion of the rolls I5 are cylindrical and touching or substantially touching each other, the cylindrical portion of the rolls being formed of rubberized fabric discs 82 similar to the rubberized fabric discs 19 heretofore described in connection with the rolls l5.

The rolls l5 and 16 are driven from a motor 93 mounted upona suitable support 94 on the frame of the machine. The motor shaft is connected by a chain 95 and sprockets to a shaft 96. The shaft 95 in turn drives a parallel shaft 91 through suitable gearing 98. Shaft 95 carries a sprocket 99 over which passes a chain I00. The chain I00 also passes over a sprocket I0l carried by the upper roller 15. Shaft 91 carries a sprocket I02 over which passes a chain I03. This chain passes over a sprocket I04 carried by the lower roller to drive it. The two rolls I5 are driven at the samespeed. The opposite end of the shaft 97 carries a sprocket I05 which receives a chain I00. This chain passes over a sprocket I01 carried by one of the rolls l5 and these two rolls are conautomatic feeding mechanism. The leaves are placed laterally so that the butt end B of the stem is adjacent the side edge of the feeding table. It will be noted from Fig. 2 of the draw,- ings that the carded belts are positioned inwardly of this side edge of the table. The result is that when the leaf passes between the carded belts or chains, the butt end projects to one side. As the leaf is fed forwardly of the machine the butt end passes into the space 80 between the rollers 15 and the stem enters the grooves 02. The pins 01 serve to keep the leaf in proper position extending transversely of the machine. When the stem reaches that portion of the groove where its width is greater than the distance between the two rolls, the rapidly rotating rolls I5 tend to pull the stem-fromthe leaf, the pins 2| serving to restrain the lateral movement of the tobacco of the leaf and cause it to feed to the outlet end where it passes on to the conveyor ,46. The stems are projected laterally from the machine and may be collected in any suitable sort of receptacle. The second set of rolls I6 serve to remove any stems notremoved bythe first set of. rolls and also serve to catch and. remove a stem remaining in a portion of a leaf if the stem is broken in the first set of rolls. The removed stem retains some of the leaf adjacent its butt end beyond the point where the leaf was originally engaged by the carding pins andthis may later be removed by suitable apparatus.

The machine-is of very simple construction as compared to stemming machines heretofore used in the industry and possesses several advantages. It is more thorough in operation and by feeding the leaves with the axis of a leaf at right angles to the direction of movement of the carded belts 1 the leaves are fed to the conveyor 46in a condinected to each other by suitable gearing I08.

The two rolls 16 are driven at the same rate of speed and preferably at a slightly lesser speed than the rolls I5.

The stemming rolls l5 and 15 are yieldingly mounted in engagement with each other. As

.shown, the upper roll 15 is mounted in bearings H0 in a suitable frame III. A threaded rod H2 passes through the frame and is connected to the top of .the bearing. This rod is surrounded by a coil spring H3. The bearing may be adjusted by means of the threaded rod and retained in adjusted position by lock nuts I. Likewise the bearings I I5 of the upper roll 16 are mounted in a suitable frame I I6 and connected to threaded rods Ill which extend through the top of the frame. Coil springs II 8 surround these rods and engage the top of the bearing and lock nuts II9 are provided for adjustment of the springs. This arrangement permits the upper rolls to give if a piece of tobacco stalk or other material of too great thickness should pass between the rolls and which would otherwise cause stoppage of the machine or breakage of some of the parts.

In operation the leaves indicated at L in Fig. 2 of the drawings are conveyed by the belts 4 and 5 to the inlet end of the carded belt or chain. The leaves may be suitably positioned laterally of the machine and spaced longitudinally of the conveyor belts 4 or 5 either by handor by suitable tion to be more easily inspected'than in stemming machines heretofore used. As the stem is removed from the leaf the remaining portion of the leaf has a tendency to move laterally as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings so that an unstemmed leaf on the conveyor 40 is usually of greater length than the portions of the leaf remaining after stemming and this also makes inspection easier. The result is that a small number of operators can be employed along the conveyor belt 45 to remove leaves from which the stems have not been properly stripped. While the details of construction may, of course, be varied to suit various operating conditions en-' countered in commercial practice, in one machine which has been built the length of the carding belts from the center of shafts 0 and 9 to the center of shafts I2 and I3 is 57 inches and the belt travels at a speedof inches per minute. The width of the entire chain is 31 9' inches with the width of the carding pins inch. The large rolls 15 have an overall length of 16 inches, the portion covered by -the discs 19 being 8 inches in length and the tapered portion being 5 inches of the rolls being cylindrical and fabric covered.

The rolls are /1. inch indiameter at their inlet ends and are provided with spiral grooves, three to the inch. They are preferably revolved at a their axes parallel tovthe path 01' travel of the belts, the rolls'being iournalled inbearings at each end, being taperedat one end, and being provided with coacting spiral grooves, and a second pair of smaller rolls arranged at the side of the conveyor belts beyond theflrst set of rolls, the second set of rolls being tapered at their inlet ends.

2. A tobacco stemming machine comprising a pair of endless belts, the belts being provided with carding pins arranged in close proximity to each other on an operative flight, a pair or meeting rolls arranged at one side of the belts with their axes parallel to the path of travel of the belts, the rolls being journalled in bearings at each end, being tapered at one end, and being provided with coacting spiral grooves, and guiding means on one of the rolls to retain the stem of a tobacco leaf in position extending transversely of the belts.

3. A tobacco stemming machine comprising a pair of endless belts, the belts being provided with carding pins arranged in close proximity to each other on an operative flight, a pair of coacting rolls arranged at one side oi the belts with their axes parallel to the path or travel of the belts, the rolls being iournalled in bearings at each end, being tapered at one'end, and beins' provided with coacting spiral grooves, and a series of pins on one ofthe rolls stem between the rolls.

4. In a machine of the character described, a

pair of rolls adapted to receive the butt end of a tobacco leaf and remove the stem "therefrom, each of said rolls being mounted in suitable bearings at each end, and being tapered at one end to provide a space between the rolls for the reception of the butt end of a tobacco leaf, the tapered portions of the rolls being provided with coacting spiral grooves, the rolls beyond the tapered portions being cylindrical and being in close proximity to each other, one of the rolls being providedwith a series of radially. projecting pins. I

5. A tobacco stemming machine comprising a pair of endless belts, the belts being provided with carding pins arranged in close proximity to each other on an operative flight, and a pair of coacting rolls arranged at one side of the belts with their axes parallel to the path of travel 01' the belts, the rolls being Journalled in bearings ing the stemof a tobacco leaf. i

DOUGLAS W. BRASI-IEAR.

to guide a tobacco 

